A 5-year-old girl is brought to the office by her mother, who is anxious after watching her daughter repeatedly speaking to an empty chair in her room. The girl's medical history is relevant for preterm delivery at 36 weeks gestation but noncontributory in other ways. Her maternal grandparents suffered from a cerebrovascular accident and depression, while her father suffered from schizoaffective disorder. When questioned, the patient claims she sees her grandma at night and talks to her before going to bed. The grandma, who had resided in the family home for two months, died two months ago. For a few weeks after her grandmother's death, the youngster would cry and ask her parents when she would see her again. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

Question

A 5-year-old girl is brought to the office by her mother, who is anxious after watching her daughter repeatedly speaking to an empty chair in her room. The girl's medical history is relevant for preterm delivery at 36 weeks gestation but noncontributory in other ways. Her maternal grandparents suffered from a cerebrovascular accident and depression, while her father suffered from schizoaffective disorder. When questioned, the patient claims she sees her grandma at night and talks to her before going to bed. The grandma, who had resided in the family home for two months, died two months ago. For a few weeks after her grandmother's death, the youngster would cry and ask her parents when she would see her again.   Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Transient behavioral abnormalities in youngsters are typical following the death of a loved one. Hallucinations of recently dead relatives are a typical part of the grieving process and may not be symptomatic of a serious mental condition.

A 5-Year-Old Girl Is Brought to the Office by Her